IDC says that m-commerce will be a $39.7 billion opportunity in
the United States by 2005. But before you develop that music, game,
video, e-book or application, know that hackers will be waiting to
rip you off.

The only reason there hasn't been a headline-grabbing
break-in, says Conal Mannion, a research director at Gartner Inc.,
is that there isn't much to steal or destroy on cell phones and
PDAs-yet. It's unclear, says Mannion, whether the security will
be there when the applications are.

Because most wireless devices lack the power to accommodate
traditional desktop security algorithms, companies such as Certicom
and RSA Security are developing new "lighter" PKI (Public
Key Infrastructure) data encryption algorithms.

But encryption won't work unless it's supported by
appropriate security procedures, says Certicom vice president of
product management Amit Kapoor. Check that the platform and
software of your wireless solution integrator make security job
one, and see an independent security consultant if you have
questions.